INEC to Issue Certificates of Return to By-election Winners Thursday

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced it will formally present Certificates of Return to the winners of recent bye-elections this Thursday, 21st August 2025. 

The ceremony for senators and members of the House of Representatives will be held at the commission’s national headquarters in Abuja.

This followed the conclusion of most polls held last Saturday, 16th August, which included 16 bye-elections and two court-ordered re-run elections across Nigeria.

The presentation is being conducted “in compliance with the provision of Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.” Those to receive their certificates include the Senators-elect for Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts.

Five members of the House of Representatives-elect will also be presented with their certificates. Their constituencies are Ovie North East and Ovie South West Federal Constituency of Edo State, Babura/Garki Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State and Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo State.

For winners of state assembly elections, the commission stated that “the Certificates of Return will be presented to members-elect by the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in our State offices on Friday 22nd August 2025 at 11.00am.”

The announcement comes after the commission managed to conclude two previously troubled re-run elections. “After previous disruptions of the elections in the two States by violence and thuggery, the elections have now been concluded,” the commission stated. 

Declarations were made in the Enugu South 1 State Constituency, won by Ngene Bright Emeka of the Labour Party (LP), and the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State, won by Ya’u Garba Gwarmai of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the commission confirmed that a winner could not be declared in the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency of Zamfara State. The Returning Officer reported being unable to make a declaration “because of violence/emergency in five Polling Units.” With a margin of lead at 1,662 votes, a supplementary election has been scheduled for Thursday in the five affected units to determine the final winner.

The commission ended its statement by assuring that “the public will continuously be informed on all the activities of the Commission.”